Manifold for heat exchanger and baffles therefor

Abstract

A manifold for heat exchangers with a manifold segment having slots which are perpendicular to the tube axis and spaced in the longitudinal direction and separated by webs, into which hollow flat tubes can be inserted and joined to the contact surface of the respective slot. The webs each have a pair of stampings to strengthen the material on each side of each web and the webs are relatively flat in shape such that the cross-section of the manifold segment has a generally D-shaped profile. At least one baffle is inserted in the manifold segment, centered between a pair of adjacent slots. The baffle has a principle circular edge and a truncated edge so as to have a truncated circular profile substantially corresponding to the approximately D-shaped profile of the manifold segment. The baffle also has an outwardly extending lip over a portion of its perimeter at the principle circular edge, the lip having projections extending from its ends, the projections being dimensioned to provide an interference fit between the baffle and the manifold segment. Circular edge of the baffle has a first radius R1 which is less than the second radius R2 of the truncated edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A baffle for insertion into a tubular heat exchanger manifold segment having a finished interior transverse cross-section which is approximately D-shaped, said baffle having a principle circular edge and a truncated edge with a radius of curvature substantially greater than the rest of the baffle perimeter so as to have a truncated circular profile substantially corresponding to the finished interior transverse cross-section of the manifold segment, said baffle having an outwardly extending lip over a portion of its perimeter at said principle circular edge, wherein said lip has opposed ends and projections extending radially outwardly from said ends, said projections being dimensioned to provide an interference fit between said baffle and the manifold segment. 
     
     
       2. The baffle of claim 1, wherein said lip of said baffle has a sufficient width to support said baffle on its edge without tipping over when said baffle is inserted into the manifold segment. 
     
     
       3. The baffle of claim 1, wherein said baffle has an axis of symmetry and said ends of said lip terminate at a line perpendicular to said baffle axis of symmetry. 
     
     
       4. A manifold for a heat exchanger, said manifold being tubular in form and having two ends and a longitudinal axis and comprising: an elongated manifold segment inset from said ends of said manifold, said manifold segment having an inner surface defining an interior and a longitudinal axis collinear with said longitudinal axis of said manifold, said manifold segment further having a plurality of parallel spaced slots formed therein, adjacent slots defining a web therebetween, each of said webs having at least two depressions extending into said interior of said manifold segment, said depressions being positioned on either side of a plane bisecting said slots and intersecting said manifold longitudinal axis, said manifold segment having a circular cross-section interrupted at said webs by a relatively flat profile so that said manifold segment and said inner surface thereof have an approximately D-shaped profile in transverse cross-section;   at least one baffle, said baffle having a principle circular edge and a truncated edge with a radius of curvature substantially greater than the rest of the baffle perimeter so as to have a truncated circular profile substantially corresponding to the transverse cross-section of the inner surface of the manifold segment, with a slight gap between at least a portion of the baffle perimeter and the inner surface of the manifold segment, said baffle having an outwardly extending lip over a portion of its perimeter at said principle circular edge, wherein said lip has opposed ends and projections extending radially outwardly from said ends, said projections being dimensioned to provide an interference fit between said baffle and the manifold segment, and said baffle perimeter is dimensioned to define a slight gap with said inner surface of said manifold segment except at said projections; and   a fillet of filler material filling the gap between each of said baffles and said manifold segment.   
     
     
       5. The manifold of claim 4, wherein said lip of said baffle has a sufficient width to support said baffle on its edge without tipping over when said baffle is inserted into the manifold segment. 
     
     
       6. The manifold of claim 4, wherein said baffle has an axis of symmetry and said ends of said lip terminate at a line perpendicular to said baffle axis of symmetry. 
     
     
       7. A baffle having a principle circular edge and a truncated edge so as to have a truncated circular profile, wherein said principle circular edge has a first radius R 1 , said truncated edge has a second radius R 2  greater than R 1 , and said baffle has a third radius R 3 , said third radius R 3  being a transitional radius between said first and second radii R 1  and R 2  and being substantially smaller than R 1  and R 2 , and said baffle has a fourth radius R 4 , said fourth radius R 4  being a reverse radius inset from said third radius R 3 . 
     
     
       8. The baffle of claim 7, wherein said baffle has an outwardly extending lip over at least a portion of its perimeter at said principle circular edge. 
     
     
       9. A baffle having a principle circular edge and a truncated edge so as to have a truncated circular profile, wherein said principle circular edge has a first radius R 1 , said truncated edge has a second radius R 2  greater than R 1 , said baffle has a third radius R 3 , said third radius R 3  being a transitional radius between said first and second radii R 1  and R 2  and being substantially smaller than R 1  and R 2 , wherein said baffle has an outwardly extending lip over at least a portion of its perimeter at said principle circular edge, and wherein said lip has opposed ends and projections extending radially outwardly from said ends, said projections being dimensioned to provide an interference fit between said baffle and the manifold. 
     
     
       10. The baffle of claim 9, wherein said baffle has a fifth radius R 5  at said projections, R 5  being slightly larger than R 1 . 
     
     
       11. The baffle of claim 9, wherein said baffle has an axis of symmetry and said ends of said lip terminate at a line perpendicular to said baffle axis of symmetry.